KS5 - FLY THE FLAG EDUCATION PACK 2019
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KS5 FLY THE FLAG EDUCATION PACK 2019 FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 1
CONTENTS
KS5 SESSION PLAN RESOURCES
How to use this pack 3 Drill headlines 13 - 15
Session 1: What are human rights? (50 mins) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 16 - 17
Activity 1: Drill headlines 4 simplified version
Activity 2: Identifying human rights 5
Activity 3: Exploring the Universial Declaration of Human Rights 5 The Preamble to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 18
Activity 4: Fly The Flag 6 plain text version
Session 2: Human Rights Case Study: Drill music (50 mins) Eleanor Roosevelt image 19
Activity 1: Introduction and re-cap 7
Flag image 20
Activity 2: Drill music and human rights 8
Activity 3: Debate ‘Drill videos should be banned’ 9 Ai Weiwei image 21
Activity 4: How will you Fly The Flag? 9
Drill briefings
Developing campaigning skills 10 - 12 Drill and policing 22
Drill and austerity 23
Drill and race 24
Drill and censorship 25
Drill and social media 26
Drill, violence and youth culture 27
Further teaching resources 28
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 2HOW TO USE
THIS PACK
Content Note: It is important to know about
the personal circumstances of your group and
tailor your sessions accordingly. Some of your
students’ human rights may currently not
These two sessions will introduce your students choices, austerity, social media and censorship
be being met, for example, around housing,
to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this issue. In addition to the resources in
health or refugee status. Discussing these
and the Fly The Flag project. The first session is the pack, which include a definition of Drill
issues in a classroom setting is encouraged
designed as a standalone session and the second music, this article provides more background.
but will require sensitivity and support.
is designed as a follow-on session, to support
• The definition of ‘civil liberties’: only being
deeper understanding. All of the resources subject to laws that are for the good of the
required to deliver these sessions are at the end whole community.
of this pack.
• This short Channel 4 film links language used
in parliament to Drill music.
USEFUL BACKGROUND
INFORMATION FOR TEACHERS KS5 CURRICULUM LINKS Language Note: Fly The Flag is only cautiously
• You can download the original text of the The
PSHE Association Curriculum (non-statutory) using the term ‘celebrate’, this is a conscious
Universal Declaration of Human Rights here. decision that recognises that the human
These session plans support the Wider
• This short TED Ed video is a useful introduction rights of many people in the UK and around
World theme:
to the subject of human rights. the world are not currently being met.
• L7. Exercise their legal rights and It also recognises that human rights are not
• In June 2018 the police succeeded in removing responsibilities; know who can support them if
a number of Drill music videos and obtaining a privilege.
they have a grievance.
a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to prevent
a group of individuals making, distributing or • L8. Recognise and challenge prejudice and
performing Drill music live. It also restricted any discrimination; understand their rights in
lyrics that could be used. This decision sparked relation to inclusion.
controversy with different commentators
discussing the impact of racial profiling, policing
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 3SESSION 1: SESSION 1
WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS?
DURATION
50 mins
KEY LEARNING POINTS: YOU WILL NEED: ACTIVITY 1:
Students will: • Drill headlines, one sheet cut into separate DRILL HEADLINES
headlines
• Understand their human rights as expressed 0 - 10 mins
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights • Scissors, one pair
(UDHR)
• Whiteboard / flipchart and pens
Split students into pairs or small groups and give
• Understand the origins of the Universal • Paper and pens each group a headline about Drill music.
Declaration of Human Rights
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
• Discuss and consider what full expression of Ask the students if they know what these
simplified version, one per student
their rights might look like and explore simple headlines relate to and through a whole group
ways, related to their day-to-day experiences, • The Preamble (the introduction to the UDHR), discussion build a shared understanding of the
in which their rights may be violated one per student issue.
• Understand what the Fly The Flag project is • Picture of the Fly The Flag flag to project
or display Drill - is an offshoot of trap, which is itself a genre
of rap. Originating in Chicago, Drill arrived in the
UK around 2012. Characterised by dark, violent
lyrics and domineering beats, usually 60-70
IT’S NICE TO HAVE: beats per minute, though sometimes double
time. Drill is slang for shooting someone with
• Image of Eleanor Roosevelt to project an automatic weapon, and dates from the Al
or display
Capone era gangsters. A key component of Drill
• Image of Ai Weiwei to project or display are the videos, created in gritty, urban settings (in
contrast to mainstream rap styles which favour
flashy locations). In June 2018 the police were
successful in bringing a case that resulted in some
Drill videos being removed from YouTube and
some Drill artists being prevented from making,
performing or distributing their music.
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 4SESSION 1
ACTIVITY 3:
EXPLORING THE
ACTIVITY 1: ACTIVITY 2: UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF
CONTINUED IDENTIFYING HUMAN RIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS
10 – 25 mins 25 – 45 mins
Give students three minutes to come up with a list This session is about human rights, and we’ll use Give each student the simplified version of the
of all the different people who might be affected the case study of Drill music to think about human Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ask
by the issue presented in the headlines they are rights now. them to read them aloud in their groups.
looking at.
Split the students into six small groups and ask Introduce that the Declaration was created in
Feedback and make a list of the different groups each group to answer the following question: 1948 by the United Nations.
(Drill artists, police, judges, lawyers, YouTube staff,
• What are human rights? • Are there any rights that surprise them?
rap and Drill fans, victims of violence and their
families, human rights organisations, public). Give the group five minutes to make a list of as • Is there anything missing that they came up with
on their list?
many rights as they can.
Ask the students to suggest some of the • What rights may be impacted by the headlines
conflicting needs of these different groups. Ask the groups to feedback what they have around Drill music? (the rights possibly being
identified and record these answers, ask the impacted are Articles 2, 3, 10, 19, 22, 25, 27
group: & 29 – clarify that students would need more
• Who has human rights? information to be certain)
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 5SESSION 1
ACTIVITY 3: ACTIVITY 4:
CONTINUED ABOUT FLY THE FLAG
45 mins – 50 mins
Ask the participants why they think the Show the students the picture of the Fly The Flag
Declaration might have been drawn up in 1948. flag. This flag has been designed by the artist
Ai Weiwei, with the footprint as a symbol for
• What significant events happened between
1914 – 1918 and 1939 – 1945? human rights, and in June 2019 this flag will be
flown from as many places as possible in the UK.
The horrors of the two world wars inspired • Why do you think this project is happening
48 countries to come together as the United now? (Most people in the UK don’t know what
Nations. The first task this organisation set itself their human rights are, our human rights are
was to create the Universal Declaration of Human precious and threatened, human rights issues
Rights. Eleanor Roosevelt, who was previously are part of everyday life – recent removal of Drill
the First Lady of the US and was known for videos from YouTube and legal action against
her activism and fairness, was the Chair of the those making the videos)
team creating the Declaration which included
representatives from all the nations. • Why is a flag a good reminder of human rights?
(a symbol of shared values, reminder that we
Give students the Preamble to the Declaration are not alone, something to come together
and ask them to read it (and explain that ‘whereas’ around)
is used in the same way that ‘because’ might be • What sort of reaction do you think the
used today). How does this introduction make Fly The Flag project might provoke?
them feel?
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 6SESSION 2: SESSION 2
HUMAN RIGHTS CASE STUDY: DRILL MUSIC
DURATION
50 mins
KEY LEARNING POINTS: YOU WILL NEED: ACTIVITY 1:
Students will: • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, INTRODUCTION AND RE-CAP
young people’s version, one per student
• Deepen their understanding of human rights 0 - 5 mins
as expressed in the Universal Declaration • The Preamble (the introduction to the UDHR),
of Human Rights through a case study of one per student
Project the Fly The Flag image. Ask students to
Drill music.
• Whiteboard / flipchart and pens re-cap what was discussed in the last session, ask
• Discuss and debate the human rights issues • Drill briefing sheets: Drill and censorship, how many human rights there are and how many
surrounding Drill music. Drill and race, Drill and austerity, Drill, youth the students can remember, record them.
• Consider the role of human rights non – culture and violence, Drill and policing and
Explain that the Universal Declaration of Human
governmental organisations (NGOs) Drill and social media - three copies of
Rights is not a legal document – it is a statement.
in society. each briefing
The students’ rights are protected by two legally
• Understand the relationship between the • Paper and pens binding treaties (agreements between countries),
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which
• Picture of the Fly The Flag flag to project
United Nations Convention Rights of the or display offers extra protection for children and young
Child, the European Convention of Human people under the age of 18, and, in December 2018
Rights and the UK Human Rights Act. the European Convention of Human Rights. Their
rights are also protected by the UK Human Rights
• Consider why the Fly The Flag project is
Act, a UK law that means that every public body such
happening, have an opinion about the project
as schools, hospitals and the police have to actively
and consider how they might like to Fly The Flag
promote and uphold human rights.
themselves?
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 7SESSION 2
ACTIVITY 2:
ACTIVITY 1: DRILL MUSIC AND
CONTINUED HUMAN RIGHTS
5 mins – 20 mins:
Throughout this moment of change in the UK, Put students into six small groups and give each Explain that each group has a series of quotes
we will remain a signatory of the European group copies of one of the briefing sheets, ‘Drill from different articles about Drill – the first thing
Convention on Human Rights, which is currently and …’ and a copy of the Universal Declaration of is to read their briefing and identify which human
enforced in UK law through the UK Human Rights Human Rights. rights risk being violated and for whom? The rights
Act. However, Liberty, and other organisations, being impacted are Articles 2, 3, 10, 19, 22, 25, 27
remain concerned about how and which human Recap – Drill is an offshoot of trap, which is itself & 29. Each group will have different combinations
rights will be protected after Brexit. They are a genre of rap. Originating in Chicago, Drill arrived based on the information in their briefing sheet.
working closely across the political spectrum to in the UK around 2012. Characterised by dark,
secure human rights. For a current update on violent lyrics and domineering beats, usually Allow the groups 10 minutes to read and
the impact of Brexit please refer to the 60-70 beats per minute, though sometimes discuss and ask each group to feedback their
Liberty website. double time. Drill is slang for shooting someone observations about rights. You may want to refer
with an automatic weapon, and dates from the to the exercise completed at the start of the first
Al Capone era gangsters. A key component of Drill session, remembering victims’ families, the rest of
are the videos, created in gritty, urban settings society etc.
(in contrast to mainstream rap styles which favour
flashy locations).
In June 2018 the police were successful in
bringing a case that resulted in some Drill videos
being removed from YouTube and some Drill
artists being prevented from making, performing
or distributing their music. We are going to
explore the issues surrounding Drill and the
human rights implications.
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 8SESSION 2
ACTIVITY 3:
DEBATE ‘DRILL VIDEOS ACTIVITY 4:
SHOULD BE BANNED’ HOW WILL YOU FLY THE FLAG?
20 mins – 40 mins: 40 mins – 50 mins:
Explain that students are going to debate the
• Should Drill artists take more responsibility for Project the Fly The Flag flag picture, ask students if
the consequences of their work?
statement ‘Drill videos should be banned’. Give they remember who designed the flag? Ai Weiwei,
each group five minutes to prepare a two-minute • Is Drill art or just threats of violence set to a an artist who has experienced being exiled with
presentation in which everyone speaks, based beat? his family, being secretly detained without trial
on the information in their briefing, not their • Should we be worrying about Drill or is that a for 81 days, and having his passport removed by
personal perspective. They must reference the distraction from bigger issues? the Chinese government. As a result, he is very
human rights implications of their decision. outspoken about human rights.
• Is the role of human rights organisations like
Groups can adopt characters, for example,
Liberty and the Index against Censorship In June 2019, the Fly The Flag project is inviting
the police, human rights specialists etc.
important? Why? and encouraging as many places as possible to
Allow each group to give their presentation and recognise the importance of human rights.
Round up the debate with some closing remarks
then encourage debate and challenge. You can • What do you think this school/college could do
and a vote on the statement – Drill videos should
provoke the conversation with the following to recognise the importance of human rights?
be banned.
questions:
• What actions could you take?
• Should some human rights take precedence over
another, even though the Universal Declaration • Complete this sentence: “I fly the flag for human
rights because…”
of Human Rights says they are all equal?
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 9DEVELOPING
CAMPAIGNING SKILLS
These are some suggestions for supporting STEP 1 STEP 2
your students to develop campaigning skills Understanding campaigns What do we care about?
and take action on issues that are important
Reflect on how the Universal Declaration of Ask the students to identify and discuss the issues
to them. You can use these suggestions
Human Rights was created – by passionate and that they think are most important to create
to deliver lessons or run extra-curricular
motivated individuals and groups who had clear a positive change for human rights, locally or
activities. Where possible we encourage peer
aims. You can reflect on what students learned globally, and which connect to their lives. Students
leadership.
about campaigning for change and the complexity could be supported to pitch issues they think are
This overview is designed to give students of issues from their session exploring Drill music. important with a vote to focus the group on one
the skills and experience to take an active subject or could work in small teams on several
role in deciding how to Fly The Flag in June issues.
2019, linking their school to their local Research other human rights campaign groups
community. Students can be encouraged – Liberty, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty
to take on community leadership roles and International. You could expand to include
they might engage local groups and sports other groups like Greenpeace, Stonewall or local
clubs, connect with local government, their campaigns of which the students are aware.
MP, local arts organisations and businesses, • What do they do?
local press and media etc.
• Whose attention are they trying to get?
• How do they get their message across?
• What sort of image do they have?
• How are they funded?
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 10DEVELOPING
CAMPAIGNING SKILLS
STEP 3 • The people we want to reach with our message
are (other students, school council, school
STEP 4
Campaign planning senior leadership team, parents and families, Take action
Students work together to create a campaign by local people, local Councillors, local MP) Support students to take action – this step
completing the following statements: • We will use these methods to get our message may take multiple sessions and we encourage
to those people (letter writing, petitioning, a ‘plan – do – review’ approach. Suggestions for
• The issue we want to campaign about is
encouraging others to take action, competitions, actions include:
• This issue is important to us because organising events, fundraising, direct actions) • Designing and creating campaign slogans and
• Our aims are • We will raise the profile of our campaign by awareness raising materials e.g. posters, flyers,
1. (posters, assemblies, social media, face-to-face social media posts, t-shirt designs, short films,
2. canvassing, lunchtime stall) other collateral (keyrings, awareness wristbands)
3. • We will get support / funding for our campaign • Joining an existing campaign ‘ask’ for an
from organisation aligned with your aims and enrol
• This issue is about the following human rights your school
(list the articles and the rights) • This campaign group is being set up by (refer
to the importance of transparency and honesty • Writing to local politicians, including councillors
• The other organisations campaigning about this in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of and your MP
issue are
Human Rights) • Creating an event, an assembly or something
more informal like a break-time event or a gig
• A direct action – for example handing out paper
straws to encourage a switch from plastic
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 11DEVELOPING
CAMPAIGNING SKILLS
STEP 5 • In the circle closest to their name they should
write the names of the people they can
Initiate small group discussions, that will feed
into a whole group discussion, inspired by these
Reflect influence most strongly, for example close
quotes, spheres of influence task and the students
Encourage students to reflect on what they did family and friends.
campaigning experience.
and what, if anything, they achieved. It may be • Expanding outwards, encourage students to
worth noting that campaigning for change can think about the other people and organisations • “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed,
be dispiriting if we don’t achieve what we want they can influence.
it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
to, and that change can sometimes take time
• Encourage students to think about the ways in
and need patience. Ask the students what skills which they influence others – through direct • “Be the change that you wish to see in the
they have developed, how their actions have world.” Mahatma Gandhi
contact, through modelling behaviour, how they
made them feel and have supported their values, spend their money and time. • “Education is the most powerful weapon which you
and what the long-term outcomes may be for can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
themselves and others. • Ask students to think about an issue that is
important to them and consider one action
Spheres of influence task they can take in each of the circles to influence
change e.g. Talk to a family member to raise
• Show students how to map their spheres of
their awareness, tag and share some social
influence.
media posts with friends, stop (or start) shopping
• Draw a small circle in the centre of a piece of somewhere and let the company know why.
paper and ask students to write their name in it.
• Draw three more concentric circles around this,
don’t worry about being neat.
FLY THE FLAG KS5 EDUCATION PACK | 12DRILL HEADLINES
Police targeting Drill music videos in controversial crackdown on social media that
‘incites violence’
Police have banned a London rap group from making Drill music
Inside UK Drill, the demonised rap genre representing a marginalised generation
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 13London Drill rap group banned from making music due to threat of violence
Yes, Drill music is violent. But banning it will achieve nothing
YouTube deletes 30 music videos after Met (police) link with gang violence
Content removed as police chief associates Drill lyrics with surge in stabbings
and murders
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 14The war against rap: censoring Drill may seem radical but it’s not new
Courts and Police Accused Of ‘Censorship’ As Drill Music Group Faces Ban
Lost in translation? Rap music and racial bias in the courtroom
Knife crime epidemic is bigger problem than just Drill music
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 15THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1948
SIMPLIFIED VERSION BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL UK
Article 1 – We are all born free. We all Article 8 – We can all ask for the law to Article 13 – We all have the right to go
have our own thoughts and ideas. We help us when we are not treated fairly. where we want to in our own country
should all be treated in the same way. and to travel abroad as we wish.
Article 9 – Nobody has the right to put
Article 2 – These rights belong to us in prison without a good reason, to Article 14 – If we are frightened of
everybody; whether we are rich or poor, keep us there or to send us away from being badly treated in our own country,
whatever country we live in, whatever our country. we all have the right to run away to
sex or whatever colour we are, whatever another country to be safe.
Article 10 – If someone is accused of
language we speak, whatever we think
breaking the law they have the right to Article 15 – We all have the right to
or whatever we believe.
a fair and public trial. belong to a country.
Article 3 – We all have the right to life,
Article 11 – Nobody should be blamed Article 16 – Every grown up has the
and to live in freedom and safety.
for doing something until it has been right to marry and have a family if they
Article 4 – Nobody has any right to proved that they did it. If people say we want to. Men and women have the
make us a slave. We cannot make did something bad, we have the right to same rights when they are married, and
anyone else our slave. show this was not true. Nobody should when they are separated.
punish us for something that we did not
Article 5 – Nobody has any right to hurt Article 17 – Everyone has the right to
do, or for doing something which was
us or to torture us. own things or share them. Nobody
not against the law when we did it.
should take our things from us without
Article 6 – We all have the same right to
Article 12 – Nobody should try to harm a good reason.
use the law.
our good name. Nobody has the right to
Article 7 – The law is the same for come into our home, open our letters,
everyone. It must treat us all fairly. or bother us or our family without
a very good reason.
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 16THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1948
SIMPLIFIED VERSION BY AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL UK
Article 18 – We all have the right to Article 22 – We all have the right to all our skills. We should learn about the
believe in what we want to believe, a home, to have enough money to live United Nations and about how to get
to have a religion, or to change it if on and medical help if we are ill. We on with other people and respect their
we want. should all be allowed to enjoy music, rights. Our parents have the right to
art, craft, sport and to make use of choose how and what we will learn.
Article 19 – We all have the right to
our skills.
make up our own minds, to think what Article 27 – We all have the right to our
we like, to say what we think, and to Article 23 – Every grown up has the own way of life, and to enjoy the good
share our ideas with other people right to a job, to get a fair wage for their things that science and learning bring.
wherever they live, through books, work, and to join a trade union.
Article 28 – We have a right to peace
radio, television and in other ways.
Article 24 – We all have the right to rest and order so we can all enjoy rights and
Article 20 – We all have the right to from work and relax. freedoms in our own country and all
meet our friends and to work together over the world.
Article 25 – We all have the right to a
in peace to defend our rights. Nobody
good life, with enough food, clothing, Article 29 – We have a duty to other
can make us join a group if we don’t
housing and healthcare. Mothers and people, and we should protect their
want to.
children, people without work, old and rights and freedoms.
Article 21 – We all have the right to take disabled people all have the right
Article 30 – Nobody can take away
part in the government of our country. to help.
these rights and freedoms from us.
Every grown up should be allowed to
Article 26 – We all have the right to an
choose their own leaders from time
education and to finish primary school,
to time and should have a vote which
which should be free. We should be
should be made in secret.
able learn a career or to make use of
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 17THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION Preamble
OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1948
Plain text version from
www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/socstud/
foundation_gr3/blms/3-2-3b.pdf
PREAMBLE
Because respect for the equal Because it is important that Because all countries need to
importance of every human being countries learn to get along with have the same understanding
is the only way the world will have one another; of what these human rights and
freedom, justice and peace; freedoms are;
Because the peoples of the world
Because ignoring the rights of have said in the Charter of the Now, therefore, The General
human beings has caused acts United Nations that they believe in Assembly proclaims This Universal
of hatred that have shocked and human rights, and in the value of Declaration Of Human Rights,
saddened the people of the world each and every man and woman, as a rule, to be followed and
and we all want to live in a world and they have decided to work for remembered always by the people
where people can speak freely a better world, a better life and and societies of the world, as they
what they believe, and where no more freedom for all people; teach respect for these rights
one is poor or afraid; and freedoms, doing everything
Because all member countries of
possible to be sure they are kept
Because it is important that the the United Nations have promised
by all the countries of the United
laws should protect all people, to work together to respect
Nations and by all the people
so that no one is forced to rebel human rights and freedoms;
living in these countries.
against cruelty;
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 18Eleanor Roosevelt of the United States
holding a Universal Declaration of
Human Rights poster in French
UN Photo, November 1949,
United Nations (Lake Success), New York
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 19Fly The Flag – Ai Weiwei FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 20
Ai Weiwei Camilla Greenwell FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 21
DRILL AND POLICING
From an article by Lizzie Dearden, joy and excitement…Often, and we’ve seen this From an article by Dan Hancox,
The Independent 29.05.18 in London, we have gangs who make Drill videos, The Guardian, 22.06.18
and in those videos they taunt each other and
Detective Superintendent Mike West said the say what they are going to do to each other, and Police have frequently successfully banned young
number of videos that “incite violence” have been specifically what they are going to do to who.” people from making rap music, often unnoticed.
increasing since late 2015. In 2011, Stigs from Peckham road rap crew
“The gangs try to outrival each other with the PYG was served with the UK’s first ever “gang
From an article by Ian Cobain,
filming and content – what looks like a music injunction”, banning him from making any songs
The Guardian, 15.06.18 or videos that might encourage violence. Violating
video can actually contain explicit language with
gangs threatening each other,” he added. “There those conditions would have resulted in a prison
DCS Kevin Southworth said: “We believe this to sentence of up to two years.
are gestures of violence, with hand signals
be one of the first times, if not the first time, we
suggesting they are firing weapons and graphic
have succeeded in gaining criminal behaviour
descriptions of what they would do to each other.” orders that take such detailed and firm measures
Det Supt West insisted only videos that “raise to restrict the actions of a gang who blatantly
the risk of violence” are flagged, rather than Drill glorified violence through the music they created.
music in general. We’re not in the business of killing anyone’s fun,
we’re not in the business of killing anyone’s artistic
“We have been working with [YouTube owner]
expression – we are in the business of stopping
Google to take down some of the videos which they
people being killed.
have done after approaches from us,” he added.
“This isn’t about us straying into the area of
Commissioner Cressida Dick said there were
regulation or censorship – we are not trying
many reasons behind the recent uptick in attacks,
to ban anyone from making music nor are we
including evolving drugs markets, austerity and a
demonising any one type of music. But the public
“reduction in police finances”, alongside Drill music. rightly expect us to take action in a case such as
“Very quickly, you will see these are associated this where a line has very clearly been crossed
with lyrics which are about glamourising violence, and the safety of individuals is put at risk.”
serious violence – murder, stabbings – they
describe the stabbings in great detail, with great
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 22DRILL AND AUSTERITY
From an article by Lizzie Dearden, From an article by Yemi Abiade, From an article by Iman Amrani,
The Independent 29.05.18 The Independent, 15.05.18 The Guardian, 30.05.18
MC Abra Cadabra, who has appeared on BBC While street politics, social media antics and The number of secondary school exclusions
radio and won the Best Song award at 2016’s the inevitable violence they produce are issues has dramatically increased over the past year,
Mobos, said targeting musicians was a “distraction rife within this music, Drill is the new sound of and an increasing focus on exam results means
from cuts that affect schools, youth clubs, social the disenfranchised as they make sense of a “problem students” are not given the support
housing and benefits are making life harder for neglectful nation. Scratching beneath the surface that they need.
the average person living on or below the poverty of their explosive and territorial bravado further,
At the end of last year, Amanda Spielman, the
line”. you discover that these Drillers are really crying
chief inspector of schools, condemned the
Writing for The Independent, Dummy Mag editor out for help, speaking to a mental anguish that
practice of excluding vulnerable or difficult
Yemi Abiade said it was “unfounded” to blame has engulfed them but fails to be addressed.
children as a way of preserving good performance
Drill for violence that has existed for decades. These are communities that are constantly being
results, a trend known as “off-rolling”. She
“Ignoring these problems breed contempt, giving let down by cuts to local services, such as youth
described it as “an invidious example of where
birth to more violence,” he added. “Regardless of clubs and school services that would take would-
schools have lost sight of the purpose of
London’s murder rate, Drill will continue to offer be gangsters and murderers off the streets,
education”. She also said that, “If, through a poor
a voice to those without one because, for many of channelling their energies into positivity.
education, we close down other avenues they
them, it’s all they have to survive.” have for success, we are setting the pathway for
a life of crime. Without access to proper, decent
learning and training we are passing de facto life
From an article by Denzil Bell, sentences on young offenders.”
The Big Issue, 29.06.18
Also defending the genre, criminologist
Dr Anthony Gunter told the BBC: “If you see
violence and pain and suffering all around you,
because you live in a deprived neighbourhood,
you’re going to make music that’s intense, violent
and painful. If we want them to make beautiful
music – nice, kind music – we’ve got to invest in
these urban communities”.
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 23DRILL AND RACE
From an article by Yemi Abiade, simply turn up. In 2007, for example, several especially murder trials, and defence counsel might
The Independent, 15.05.18 MCs were covertly followed out of a No Hats No not be aware that this is an area in which expert
Hoods label launch at Rich Mix by plainclothes evidence can properly be called.’
The collective attitude of the mainstream therefore police, then stopped and searched. ‘We just The vast majority of Crown Court judges, jury
brings up the old (or maybe not) adage that black thought: “These people came down for free, for members, and prosecution lawyers are white. The
communities remain aliens – punching bags for
our label launch,’” and felt quite shit about it,’ Pete inflammatory videos and lyrics too easily tap into
when the going gets tough – and that black boys
Todd from No Hats No Hoods said. “Especially racist preconceptions and fears.
are forever the problem of British society.
since we’ve done this night for two years, and
“That’s what it feels like,” says Complex senior editor The failure to explain to judge and jurors, typically
done about 20 shows, and we’ve got a complete
and Trench editor-in-chief Joseph “JP” Patterson. unfamiliar with rap’s conventions, that gangsta
clean bill of health. I don’t think many nights rap music is steeped in longstanding black
“Especially when you’ve got papers like the Daily in any genre could say that!” Jammer, an artist
Mail consistently attacking successful black men in diasporic oral traditions, complexly shaped by a
with a history of positive community work, and a history of racial marginalization. The braggadocio-
Britain. It’s almost like, no matter which route you
mentor to young aspiring musicians, was equally laden music adopts the persona of the outlaw
take, it’s never good enough for these people.”
unimpressed: “It’s a piss-take – I went there that or ‘badman’, using well-established tropes and
night to work. They’ve basically stopped and rhetorical devices that undercut the ‘life on the
From an article by Dan Hancox, searched me in my workplace!” streets’ lens.
The Guardian, 22.06.18 It doesn’t allow that alienated working-class youth
This scrutiny of Drill is situated in a long history
Extracts From a Manchester Policy of all colours have, for decades, been trying … to
of police and judicial persecution of black Blog by Eithne Quinn, 04.10.18 shock, at once, their parents and the mainstream.
It doesn’t acknowledge that rap is an immensely
music. The notorious Metropolitan police risk-
Recently, the use of rap as prosecution evidence has popular youth cultural form of entertainment, and
assessment form 696, which came into force in
become widespread enough for the Metropolitan as such is heavily formulaic and fictional. Many
2005, effectively shut down grime as a London
police to have formed what it calls its Drill Music thousands of young people in the UK are trying to
club genre for a decade, depriving the artists and
Translation Cadre. This is a group of police emulate their rap heroes…. An aspiration to gain
DJs of any realistic prospect of making a living.
officers who act as rap expert witnesses for the rap recognition and get paid drives the making
Before it was scrapped last November, the form
Crown... Troublingly, the expert testimony of police and content of this music.
plainly revealed police attitudes to racial profiling,
asking: “Is there a particular ethnic group officers, encouraging a literal reading of the rap
attending? If ‘yes’, please state group.” Sometimes music, typically goes uncontested. As one criminal
the Met would just bypass form 696 altogether, defence barrister explained to me this year: ‘Rap
calling venues, resulting in them cancelling grime lyrics are frequently sought to be [presented] by
events citing spurious reasons. Or they would the prosecution in criminal trials, including and
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 24DRILL AND CENSORSHIP
From an article by Steven Hopkins, From an article by Ian Cobain, From an article by Dan Hancox,
The Huffington Post, 18.06.18 The Guardian, 15.06.18 The Guardian, 22.06.18
Corey Stoughton, advocacy director at Liberty, In what is being described as a legally “I think in this country we have a wide tolerance of
told HuffPost UK: “Throughout history, art unprecedented move, members of a group called artistic licence and banning Drill doesn’t sit well
has been a means of political and emotional 1011 have been banned from mentioning death or with that” Elena Papamichael, solicitor
expression reflecting the reality of people’s lives, injury, and from mentioning named postcodes in Police have frequently successfully banned young
including violence on our streets. Censorship is a gang context. people from making rap music, often unnoticed.
a reaction of fear and misunderstanding, not a They must also notify police within 24 hours of In 2011, Stigs from Peckham road rap crew
solution to crime or any other social problem. releasing new videos and give 48 hours’ warning PYG was served with the UK’s first ever “gang
The contemporary focus on Drill lyrics specifically of the date and location of any performance or injunction”, banning him from making any songs
highlights the danger that racial bias infects the recording and permit officers to attend. or videos that might encourage violence. Violating
criminal justice system.” those conditions would have resulted in a prison
The court order was condemned by the campaign
Jim Killock, the executive director of the Open group Index on Censorship, which said it could sentence of up to two years. “There are films of
Rights Group, said the men’s right to freedom create a precedent that caused problems for people getting murdered and PlayStation games
of expression needed to be weighed against other artists. “Banning a kind of music is not of people being shot in the head, but I get in
the threat they posed: “Once you get into direct the way to handle ideas or opinions that are trouble just for rapping about what happens on
threats, or you’re attempting to intimidate a distasteful or disturbing,” said the chief executive, the road,” Stigs said then. “It is violent here so
particular individual, you’re beyond where free Jodie Ginsberg. what else do they want me to talk about?”
expression protections lie,” he added. “The
question here is how the police... who are not “This isn’t going to address the issues that lead to
especially au fait with whichever scene... and the the creation of this kind of music, nor should we
courts, attempt to tell the difference [between be creating a precedent in which certain forms
social commentary and threats of violence], and it of art which include violent images or ideas are
is important that they do. banned. We need to tackle actual violence, not
ideas and opinions.”
Killock said any form of censorship was “always
concerning”, but tempered it by adding “it isn’t the
case that free speech will never have boundaries”.
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 25DRILL AND SOCIAL MEDIA
From an article by Lizzie Dearden, people have maybe overlooked some of those in your raps?’ puts the victim in a position where
The Independent 29.05.18 specific connections.” their credibility and livelihood are at stake.”
A YouTube spokesman said: “We have developed
Pressplay, a company that promotes Drill music
policies specifically to help tackle videos related to
videos frequently using the hashtag “drop the From an article by Imran Amani,
knife crime in the UK and are continuing to work
knife, pick up the mic”, said its representatives had
constructively with experts on this issue.
The Guardian, 30.05.18
met with YouTube last week.
“We work with the Metropolitan police, the Young people aren’t radicalised by YouTube videos.
“With what’s happened lately the police have Young would-be jihadists don’t decide to blow
mayor’s office for policing and crime, the Home
forced YouTube to take down some videos,” said themselves up just because of online exchanges
Office and community groups to understand this
a statement posted on Instagram. “It will probably with recruiters, young white supremacists don’t just
issue and ensure we are able to take action on
be back up in the next few weeks.” go out on mass shootings because of the Facebook
gang-related content that infringe our community
Metropolitan Police Chief, Cressida Dick linked guidelines or break the law. groups they belong to, and young black men don’t
Drill music to at least one attack in London and just go out and stab each other because of Drill
“We have a dedicated process for the police to flag
said web giants have a “social responsibility” to music videos.
videos directly to our teams because we often need
remove content that incites and glamourises And this might sound obvious, but it’s worth saying:
specialist context from law enforcement to identify
violence. in most cases it’s more complicated than that.
real-life threats. Along with others in the UK, we
share the deep concern about this issue and do not There’s often a context where people feel angry,
want our platform used to incite violence.” have few opportunities, feel their lives have little
From an article by Dan Hancox,
value or few believable promises for the future.
The Guardian, 22.06.18
Banning these videos could inadvertently
While not all Drill artists espoused violence, From an article by Ben Beaumont- push this underground culture even deeper.
Hancox said, and “untreated social problems” Thomas, The Guardian, 09.05.18 YouTube may have taken action but how do
were often the root cause of violence, in a few you police something that manifests itself on
Birmingham-based academics Craig Pinkney and
cases “you can see connections between real-life Snapchat, Instagram and pretty much every other
Shona Robinson-Edwards state that Drill music
trouble and music world battles – that’s a case form of social media? Is our time and resource
is potentially dangerous, since its “music videos
that judges have made and that’s what the police not better directed towards the real issues that
are a platform which can provide the gang and/
believe is the case.” underlie all of this?
or gang members with a sense of power and
He added: “YouTube and social media such authority. Individuals can essentially say and
as Instagram and Snapchat can elevate those do what they want.” This is coupled with: “the
tensions to the point where there’s a need to save constant narrative of ‘will you do what you say
face and stand by your words. Some well-meaning
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 26DRILL, VIOLENCE AND YOUTH CULTURE
From an article by Ben Beaumont- From an article by Rahel Aklilu, From an article by Dan Hancox,
Thomas, The Guardian, 09.05.18 gal-dem.com, 15.05.18 The Guardian, 22.06.18
Whether it’s the running battles between mods “Yes, we can agree that Drill music is misogynistic, and From NWA to UK Drill, rap has long been about
and rockers in 1960s British seaside towns, or the yes we can agree that it glamorises violence” documenting real-life struggles, but it has also
“parental advisory” panic over the lyrical content Of course, the popularity of Drill music has also been about performance. Serious descriptions
of 90s gangsta rap, [youth] music has long been provided a very public platform for conflicting of violence are mixed with obviously cartoonish
the focus of moral panic – and the latest is over groups and collectives to attack each other using and comical threats. Can we trust the police to
UK Drill, a tough, often lyrically violent subset of diss tracks. The ease with which an artist can determine which lyric is “glamorising” violence,
British rap. record, shoot a video for, and release, a diss which is inciting it, and which merely describes it?
It’s a conundrum as old as entertainment itself: track has made it easier for threats to be sent to Solicitor Elena Papamichael has worked on a
does music reflect your environment, or shape opposing gangs. It would be naïve to argue that similar case, “It’s dangerous, the idea that the
it? Like violent films or video games, can people Drill music hasn’t facilitated the conflict that has police will determine whether something falls
distinguish fact from fantasy, or do they let it led to physical violence. However, the solution within the ambit of the prohibited activity.” She
influence their behaviour? towards decreasing gun and knife violence has no faith that these bans will reduce youth
Drill DJ Bempah argued: “if that’s what you see in doesn’t lie in censoring Drill music, because the violence. “Part of the issue is this huge wedge
your environment, as an artist, that’s what you fact of the matter is that the genre is simply between the police and certain communities,
portray in your lyrics.” He added that the music: portraying the everyday life of too many young and this kind of policing will just widen that
“can glamorise [violent crime], but it can’t force people. The opportunity to rap and tour is a wedge. Young people already feel underprotected
your hand to commit those actions.” way of getting out for many artists, and leaving and are effectively resorting to vigilante justice
that lifestyle behind. Instead, focus should be because there is no trust of the police. On top of
Some may be alarmed by how Drill crews such shifted towards changing those circumstances, that, they see Drill music as a way out [of youth
as 67 dress, flirting with gang imagery with and addressing the violence head-on, at the root violence]; what’s the message of measures like
matching black sportswear and masks, but this is cause. Simply silencing the violent lyrics and bleak this?”
as innocuous as similarly tribal dressing by white images of life as a young gang member doesn’t
indie bands with their uniform of skinny jeans and address the fact that this violence has become
leather jackets. The performative violence of Drill normalised in music today because it plays a large
rappers’ lyrics isn’t necessarily harmful either, and role in many people’s lives.
is arguably a document of their environment:
“Our art is imitating our life, not the other way
round,” argues Abra.
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 27FURTHER TEACHING
RESOURCES
Here are a selection of free resources to support • Save the Children: Complete guide to
continued teaching around human rights issues: campaigning for young people
• Amnesty International teaching resources and • A research guide for the Universal Declaration
education blogs of Human Rights, including a link to the
verbatim minutes of the meeting at which the
• Amnesty International list of teaching resources
about the refugee crisis, including links to a Declaration was adopted.
range of interactive games for young people • Liberty – for current campaigns and up to
aged 7-19 date information
• Red Cross - curriculum linked teaching resources
for KS1 – 5, about a range of topics including
conflict and violence, humanitarianism,
migration and refugees.
• UNICEF teaching resources for KS2 – 5, about
the refugee crisis with a human rights/rights of
the child focus
FLY THE FLAG KS5 RESOURCES | 28Fly The Flag education pack Created by Donmar Warehouse, in collaboration with Liberty Written by Anne Langford Edited by Phil McCormack, Rebecca Tarry & Clare Slater With thanks to Sam Grant and Gracie Bradley at Liberty, teacher consultants Katy Brown and Tom Edge Fly The Flag Lead Artist – Ai Weiwei Lead Producer – Fuel Co-Producers – Fuel, Amnesty International, Donmar Warehouse, Human Rights Watch, Liberty, National Theatre, Sadlers Wells and Tate
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